New rules advised after investigation into Modern Games Breeders' Cup fiasco

An investigation into the controversial start to last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar has led to a number of recommendations being put forward to prevent a similar incident.

The race was marred by a vet's premature recommendation to scratch Godolphin's Modern Games, the 9-5 favourite at the time, after his Charlie Appleby-trained stablemate, Albahr, reared and became entangled beneath the starting gate. The two horses were alongside each other.

Albahr was scratched and the uninjured Modern Games left through the front of the stalls when opened by the gate crew.

The report stated: "Veterinarians on scene initially believed that Modern Games had forced his way through the starting gate, and they made the decision to scratch him."

Scott Chaney, executive director of the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB), said after the incident that one vet called the stewards advising the withdrawal, despite no on-course exam having been conducted.

When informed by gate personnel that Modern Games did not force the gate doors open, vets inspected him and advised stewards that Modern Games was fit to compete. After being scratched, his re-entry allowed him to run for purse money only, per CHRB rules.

When the race was finally run, Modern Games won but punters who had included him in their bets received no winnings. Winning payouts were returned for the horse who was second, Tiz The Bomb, as if Modern Games had not been in the race.

Charlie Appleby after Modern Games had won the Juvenile TurfCredit: Edward Whitaker

Boos reverberated around the Del Mar grandstand as Modern Games returned to be unsaddled, with many in attendance upset by what had unfolded.

Punters in Britain and Ireland backing the first and second past the post were paid out by firms including Betfair Sportsbook, Paddy Power, Sky Bet, William Hill, Coral and Ladbrokes.

The CHRB report issued on Thursday concluded: "The regulatory veterinarians' hurried recommendation to scratch Modern Games could potentially have been avoided if a protocol requiring one person on the veterinary staff and one person in the pari-mutuel department be in charge of scratches had been in place."

The report proposed a designated vet be the only one responsible for recommending a withdrawal and a nominated pari-mutuel representative doing the same.

Better communication equipment and decision making around whether a horse ran for purse money only or was resubmitted for betting purposes was also recommended.

Read more:

20 minutes of chaos: how the Modern Games drama unfolded at the Breeders' Cup

Drama and confusion as Charlie Appleby wins Juvenile Turf after 'surreal' start

Bob Baffert on target at the Breeders' Cup amid doping controversies

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf 1-2 paid out as winners after pre-race 'debacle'

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